The MWAH prospect countdown marches on with another one of the many power bullpen arms collected in this year's draft.
Austin Adams
Position: Relief Pitcher Highest Level: Rookie
Throws: Right Height: 6'2" Weight: 180 lbs.
Age: 21 Born: 5/5/91
2012 Season Stats
Rookie: 28.0 IP, 0-1, 4 SV, 5.46 ERA, 22 H, 15 BB, 4 HR, 31 SO, 1.23 GO/AO, 4.94 FIP, .258 BABIP
Fastball – B-. For a reliever, Adams doesn’t throw especially hard, but with a fastball that sits at 92-93, he throws hard enough. The ball also has quite a bit of movement in it, which works both in Adams favor and against him.
Off-speed Pitches – B+. Adams came to the Angels already armed with a wipeout curve/slider. He’s also in the process of developing a change-up, which intrigues me. The Angels slotted him into relief, but would he develop a change if he wasn’t possibly giving the rotation at a try? There’s no word on this at all so we can assume he’s a reliever.
Control – D. Adams is exactly what you’d expect from a raw, Angels reliever. His 4.8 BB/9 is indicative of his inability to stay in the strike zone. But undoubtedly, Adams’ control will improve with time. But for now, it’s below average.
Command – F. Adams’ command really isn’t any better than his control. He misses the strike zone but he also missed his spots frequently, unfortunately. Chances are this will be a lingering issue for Adams’ development. But if he conquers this demon, I’m confident he’ll emerge as a dominant late inning reliever.
Mechanics – C. Adams mechanics look clean, but clearly, with command and control issues, at least some of that has to stem from his delivery.
Performance – C-. Adams had a spectacular senior season at Southern Florida which contributes to this grade. However, once Adams arrived in Orem, his performance dropped off which was understandable. His control eluded him and anytime a hitter makes contact in that environment, the ball tends to fly.
Projection – B+. Relievers that offer a 93 mph fastball, wipeout breaking pitch and a solid changeup are few and far between. Adams has that sort of ability.
Estimated MLB Arrival Date – 2016.
(*As always, the above scouting report is provided by Scotty Allen of LA Angels Insider)
Season Summary: An eighth-round pick in the 2012 draft, Adams had a somewhat disappointing debut in his first go through a real professional league. Adams was a dominant reliever at University of South Florida, but that didn't necessarily translate when he hit the Pioneer League upon being drafted. That is certainly discouraging, but it is hardly damning. Adams still generated a lot of swing-and-misses and wasn't that hittable. The problem was his command which led to far too many walks and homers allowed. It all just goes to show that their is talent there but it needs to be refined.
What to Expect in 2013: It seems unlikely that the Halos will convert Adams into a starter, so there aren't any questions about his career path like there has been with some of the other arms we've seen thus far. That's good news for him even in light of his rough start. Adams throws hard enough and he already has the killer slider, so all he really needs to do is get his command straightened out and he should fly through the system. Of course, that is easier said than done. With his struggles in Orem, the Halos are unlikely to be push the issue with him and just start him in Low-A Burlington.
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